Trolley-wheel.



J. C. ULLARD.

TROLLEY WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 1913,.

l 141,406. Patented June 1, 1915.

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YHE NBER/s PETERS (.o.. PHDYC-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D Cv FFKE.

JAMES C. OLLRD, 0F TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

' TROLLEY-WHEEL.

trainee.

` Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 1, 1915.

Application led 'March 3, 1913. Serial No. 751,745.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES C. OLLARD, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, haveinvented certain new and useful lmprovements in Trolley- 'VVheels, of which the following is a speciprovide ready means for renewing the supply of lubricant. I attain these and other objects by the devices, mechanisms, and arrangements illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in whichf Figure 1 is a vertical section through a trolley wheel and its mounting;` F ig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the trolley wheel removed from its mounting; Fig. 4 is a section showing the wheel and the mounting thereof, the wheel being shown as having been worn down at the contact faces and the lubricating parts arranged for the insertion of a fresh supply of lubricant; Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in section, of one ofthe lubricant pressure pistons and spring; and Fig. 6 is a similar view ofthe cap and pin therefor. Y

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The harp is provided with a socket 1 by means of which it isattached to the end of a trolley pole, and with a pair of tines 2 extending upward therefrom as usual. An inward facing cup 3 is formed on the end of each tine 2. One of said cups 3 is provided with an inner chamber 4 into which the end of the central hollow pin or shaft 5 fits, and with an outer annular chamber 6 adapted to receive the spring of the contact plate, and also with a small screwthreaded hole 7 in the center of the chamber 4, said hole being normally closed by a plug 8. The other cup 3 has a central hole 9 passing through it of such diameter as to engage the pin or shaft 5 and through which said pin is inserted into place in the harp, and with a chamber 6 correspondingV with the similar chamber 6 on the other tine.

The hollow pin or shaft 5 has its inner and outer faces surfaced and is supported by the walls of the chamber 4 at one end and by the walls of the hole 9 at the other end. lt is provided with a number of lubricating holes 10 at its center and also with a small pin or lug 11 extending inward into the hollow portion at the center. The shaft 5 is secured in place by means of a screwthreaded pin 12 which passes through the wall of the hole 9 and through a hole 13 in the shaft, said pin 12 also securing the cap 14 in place. That end of the shaft 5 which engages the chamber 4 is closed by the outer wall thereof, but the other end of the shaft is closed by a cap 14 which is provided with a neck which enters the end of the shaft 5 and which is pierced by a hole so positioned as to be engaged by the end of the said pin 12. The form of the cap is such as to complete the shape of the cup so as to substantially correspond with that on the other side of the harp.

A loose sleeve 15 is mounted on the shaft 5 between the tines of the harp, said sleeve being free to revolve on the shaft and being lubricated thereon through the holes 10 in the shaft. The sleeve 15 has holes 16 therethrough in the same plane with the holes 10.

The trolley wheel 17 is of the usual shape so far as its groove and flanges are concerned, and has a large hub 18 with its side faces surfaced. The interior of the wheel is preferably cored to lighten'it and to save material. A tube or lining 19 fits tightly in and passes through the large axial hole in the wheel but is slightly shorter than the distance between the opposite faces of the hub so that said faces extend beyond the ends of the lining 19. The lining 19 fits loosely over the sleeve 15 and is free to turn thereon, being lubricated thereon through the holes 16 in the said sleeve. The sleeve 15 is of substantially the same length as the lining 19, as above noted. Each face of the hub 18 is provided with a groove 2O extending around it, said groove being shaped so that it varies in distance from the center of the wheel 17, such for instance as is shown in Fig. 3. The groove 20 is filled with a solid lubricant such as graphite.

Two contact plates 21 are mounted on the shaft 5 on each side of the trolley wheel and are free to slide thereon. A pair of springs 22 are pocketed within the annular chambers 6 and press against the outer surfaces of the plates 21 to move them into contact with the faces of the boss 18. Each plate 21 has a small projection 23 extending downward therefrom and then bent outward, said projections engaging in small holes 24 made at suitable points in the tines 2. Thus` the plates are kept from turning on the shaft 5 while being free to slide axially thereon. The current collected by the wheel 17 is carried'to the contact plates 21 and thus through the springs 22 and shaft 5 to the cups 3 of the harp and thus to the pole.

The lubrication of the wheel is accomplished by inserting the lubricant (which is preferably some solid lubricating material which will not quickly melt) within the shaft 5 and allowing it to pass therefrom through the `holes 10. and 16 to lubricate the inner and outer faces of the sleeve 15.- The lubricant cannot readily pass from the wheel because the plates 21 are not revolving and the groove 2O with its solid lubricant tends to hold it back. In consequence the outer portion of the plates 21 are substantially free from lubricant and are able to readily conduct the current from the wheel boss to theplates. The groove 20 being of varying distance from the axis of the wheel, lubricates a large surface of the plate and reduces the wear thereof and of the boss 18. With certain kinds of lubricants within the shaft 5, I have found it best to provide a means for applying a pressure thereto to` force it slowly therefrom. This is accomplished by means of two pistons 25, each pressed toward the center' by means of the two springs 26 acting between the pistons and, in one case, the outer wallV of the chamber 4, and in the other case, the outer wall of the cap 14. The pin 11 which projects into the shaft 5 prevents either piston from closing the holes 10 in the shaft by passing over it. It is evident that the grease will be forced through the holes 10 and will thus come incontact with the sleeve 15 and gradually spread between it and the shaft 5 and that some of it will lbe Vcaught up by the passing holes 16 and delivered to the lining 19, and that the pressure of the pistonswithin the shaft will keep up the supply until all the lubricant is exhausted.

When it is desired to renew the supply of lubricant, the plug 8 is removed and a screw-V threaded rod 27 is passed through the hole 7 and engages in a suitable tapped hole in the piston 25 and said piston may then be drawn back toward the end of the shaft 5 thereby,while by removing the pin 12 from its seat the cap 14 is released and can be removed together with the spring 26 and the piston 25 on that end of the shaft. The end of the shaft is therefore open and new grease l. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a harp Vhaving comple'- mentary semispheroidal cups formed on the ends of its tines, one of said cups having a wall dividing it intoV a central chamber and a surrounding annular chamber, thel otherV cup having a hole corresponding with the central chamber; and an axle extending between the. cups and mounted in thecentral chamber and in the hole and having an end plate closing said hole.

2. In a device of the class described, the l combination with a harp having comple mentary semispheroidal cups formed on the ends of its tines, one'of saidcups having a wall dividing it into a, central chamber and a surrounding annular chamber, the other central chamber; an axleextending between the cups and mountedin the Yhole and in the,

central chamber; Vanda removable cap Vitting in said hole and of the cup. n Y

3. In a' device of the class described, the combination with a harp having cups formed onthe ends of its tines, one of said cups having a large central hole therethrough.; cir cular walls formed in saidcups and adapted to form an annular chamber in each cup; a hollow shaft engaged and held'by said circular walls and of smaller. diameter thanth'e hole through the one cup; and a kcap fitting in said hollow shaft Vand in cup to close them.V

4. In a device of the class described, the

completing the shapeVr vcup having a hole corresponding with the f thehole in the Y combination with a-harp having cups formed on the ends of its tines, one of said cups having a large' central hole therethroughycirf` circularV wall adjacent the cap and passing f through the hollow shaft wall and through the Vcap fitting therein whereby the said shaft and cap are vheld from movement in the harp.

JAMES o. oLLARD.

Witnesses:

A.. M. RICHARDS, K. C. CHANGE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained Yfor ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

